Accessory Case for Handheld Electronic Device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus comprises a cover structured and dimensioned to house an electronic handheld device. A clip is attached in relation to the cover. The clip comprises first and second portions with a hinged connection therebetween. The second portion is movable in relation to the first portion at the hinge connection. The clip further comprises a stop that limits the travel of the second portion, whereby upon moving of the second portion to engage the stop, the second portion functions as a stand upon which the cover leans for supporting the cover in an upright position on a supporting surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/937,540, filed Nov. 9, 2007, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to handheld electronic devices andmore particularly accessories for handheld electronic devices.

People of all ages now use a wide variety of handheld electronicdevices. Cellular telephones, including smart phones, portable mediaplayers, personal digital assistants, handheld computers, digitalcameras and digital camcorders are just some of the handheld electronicdevices presently carried and used by many. These devices quite oftenplay media content, both in vertical and horizontal views. The devicesare often quite expensive and the risk of damage to them from droppingis significant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an apparatus for use with an electronichandheld device. The apparatus comprises a cover structured anddimensioned to house the device. A clip is attached in relation to thecover. The clip comprises first and second portions with a hingedconnection therebetween. The second portion is movable in relation tothe first portion at the hinge connection. The clip further comprises astop that limits the travel of the second portion, whereby upon movingof the second portion to engage the stop, the second portion functionsas a stand upon which the cover leans for supporting the cover in anupright position on a supporting surface.

Various objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art from the following detailed description of thepreferred embodiment, when read in light of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the opaque phone case (deliveredovernight) with stand and leash.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the transparent media player case(in photos) with stand and leash.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded, rear perspective view of the case shownin FIG. 1 with the hinged back panel open and the clip and leashremoved.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view of an exemplary hingeassembly for the hinged back panel shown in FIG. 3, assembled in fulland partially assembled in broken line.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view of an exemplary lock forthe hinged back panel shown in FIG. 3, locked in full and unlocked inbroken line.

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of a case showing a mounting point for theclip.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial sectional view of mounting point shown inFIG. 6 with a clip mounted thereto.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of mounting point and clip taken along thelines 8-8 in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of the clip shown in full in ahorizontal position and in broken line in a vertical position.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged side elevational view of the clip opened to forma stand, with a stop at the top of the clip limiting the opening travelof the clip.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view in side elevation view of the clipclosed and locked in a closed position.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial perspective view of the leash attachmentto the clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 anapparatus, generally indicated at 10, for use with a device, such as atelephone, such as a cellular telephone, including, for example, a smartphone, such as the iPhone® manufactured by Apple Inc. of Cupertino,Calif. A similar apparatus, generally indicated at 10′, may be used witha device, such as a portable media player, including, for example, anMP3 player, such as the iPod® manufactured by Apple Inc. of Cupertino,Calif., shown in FIG. 2. A similar apparatus may be used with a device,such as a personal digital assistant, handheld computers, digitalcameras, digital camcorders, or like device.

The apparatus 10 may include a cover 12, a clip 14, and a tether orleash 16, or the like, which may be removably or releasably attached inrelation to the cover 12. The cover 12 may be provided for housing orcovering at least a portion of the device to provide protection for thedevice. The leash 16 may be provided for attachment to a person so thatthe person can wear the device and have it readily available.

The cover 12 may be substantially transparent or clear, translucent oropaque, and may be colored or colorless. For example, the cover 12 maybe clear and colorless so that a colored device, such as an iPod NanoChromatic manufactured by Apple Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., can be seenthrough the cover 12.

It should be appreciated that the cover 12 and the clip 14 may be oflike appearance (e.g., substantially transparent or clear, translucentor opaque, and colored or colorless) so as to blend in or besubstantially indiscriminate.

The cover 12 may be in the form of a hard shell case formed frompolycarbonate plastic or other suitable material. A similar cover (notshown) may be in the form of a skin formed from high-grade siliconrubber. Regardless of its form, the cover 12 may be light, durable, andaesthetically appealing, and may provide an assuring, soft gel,anti-slip feel, which may facilitate handling. The cover 12 may have aslim protective design that does not add any significant weight orvolume to the device.

A hard shell case cover 12 may have a displaceable portion, such as aslideable or hinged back panel 18, which, when displaced, provides anopening, generally indicated at 20 in FIG. 3, or other suitable accessto the interior of the cover 12 for insertion of the device therein.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the cover 12 may have a back panel portion 18that may be hinged in relation to a lower back portion of the cover 12.This may be accomplished with a living hinge (not shown), integrallyformed, for example, by a weakened area of the cover. Alternatively, theback panel portion 18 may be hinged in relation to a lower back portionof the cover 12 by a mechanical hinge 22, wherein the back panel portion18 and the lower back portion of the cover 12 form separate cooperatingparts. The illustrated hinge 22 may have a portion 24 that extends fromthe back panel portion 18, and which cooperates with a recessed area ora relief, generally indicated at 26, in the lower bottom portion. Forexample, opposing ends of the extending portion 24 may be provided withprotrusions or nodules 28 that cooperate with recesses or dimples 30 inthe recessed area or relief 26, so as to form pivot points of the hinge22.

The hinge 22 may have a cam surface 32 that aids in assembly of the backpanel portion 18 in relation to the lower pack portion, as illustratedin FIG. 4. For example, a first one of the nodules 28 may be insertedinto a first one of the dimples 30, and while pivoting the back panelportion 18 and the first nodule 28 in relation to the first dimple 30, asecond one of the nodules 28′ may engage the cam surface 32 and beguided, in the direction of arrow A when viewing FIG. 4, into a secondone of the dimples 28′ to form the hinge 22.

The back panel portion 18 may be held in a closed position in relationto an upper portion of the cover 12, for example, by a latch or lock,generally indicated at 34. For example, either one of the cover 12 orthe back panel portion 18 may be provided with a cantilevered portion 36that supports a button 38, and the other one of the cover 12 or the backpanel portion 18 may be provided with a recess or opening 40 forreceiving the button 38. Upon closing the back panel portion 18, forexample, in the direction of Arrow B shown in FIG. 5, the button 38 maycam on against a surface structure adjacent the recess or opening 40,deflecting the cantilevered portion 36. When the button 38 reaches therecess or opening 40, the cantilevered portion 36 may bias the button 38into engagement with the recess or opening 40. In this position, thebutton 38 may be substantially flush and unobservable with the surfacestructure about the opening 40, as shown.

A skin may have an opening and may be sufficiently resilient or pliableto allow the skin to be stretched to allow the device to be insertedinto the skin through the opening.

The cover 12 may be formed, or may define an interior that may be formedsubstantially in the shape of the device, and be sized to fitsubstantially snuggly or tightly about the device. This may permit thedevice to be held substantially firmly within the cover 12, so that thedevice does not encounter substantial movement with the cover 12, whichmay cause chaffing or rattling of the device therein.

The cover 12 may have holes, slots, slits, reliefs, perforations, orother suitable openings or recesses to facilitate unhindered use of oneor more functions of the device, such as, for example, the functions ofscreens or pads, which may include, for example, touch screens or touchpads, or the functions of speakers or headset jack, microphones,connectors or connections, camera, IR beaming, or other functions of thedevice.

The cover 12 may be ergonomically sized and/or shaped, for example, withcurved or rounded edges and/or corners, to fit comfortably in a person'shand.

The front of the cover 12 may have a built-in, touch-through screen 42,which may be provided for protecting a touch screen or a touch pad ofthe device while facilitating use of the touch screen or the touch pad.The screen 42 may be substantially clear or transparent, and may becolored or colorless, and/or function to provide antiglare orultraviolet (UV) for the screen or pad of the device. The cover screen42 may be formed from polycarbonate plastic or other suitable material.

The back of the cover 12, opposite the front of the cover 12, may beprovided with raised or protruding surfaces, nodules, feet or the like,which may include resting points 44 for making minimal contact with asupporting surface, such as a desktop or table top, or mounting points,such as a mounting point 46 for the clip 14 or other suitable mountablefeatures.

A mounting point 46 for the clip 14 may take on any suitable form. Forexample, the mounting point 46 may include a transverse recess or relief48 and/or one or more recesses or openings 50, such as those axiallyspaced in FIG. 6. The recesses or openings 50 may be substantiallyT-shaped, so as to include a first portion 52 and a second portion 54,which is reduced in dimension in relation to the first portion 52.

The back of the clip 14 may support features that cooperate with thetransverse recess or relief 48 and/or T-shaped recesses or openings 50.For example, the back of the clip 14 may include a transverse protrusion58 that may engage, or otherwise cooperate with the transverse recess orrelief 48 and/or one or more protrusions 58 that may engage, orotherwise cooperate with the T-shaped recesses or openings 50, as shownin FIG. 7. The protrusions 58 may have an enlarged dimension portion 60that may engage the first portion 52 of the T-shaped recesses oropenings 50 and a reduced dimensioned, or necked down portion 62 thatmay slideably engage the second reduced dimension portion 54 of theT-shaped recesses or openings 50, as shown in FIG. 8. Upon sliding thenecked down portion 62 into engagement with the second reduced dimensionportion 54 of the T-shaped recesses or openings 50, the transverseprotrusion 58 may engage the transverse recess or relief 48, thusforming a snap fit. The enlarged dimension portion 60 may be heldcaptive by the reduced dimension portion 54. In this way, the clip 14may be releasably held or attached in relation to the cover 12.

The clip 14 may function as a belt clip and a stand, and may swivel toallow the clip 14 to be selectively oriented longitudinally (i.e.,lengthwise) and laterally (i.e., widthwise) in relation to the cover 12,as shown in FIG. 9. In this way, the device may be selectively supportedupright in a first position (e.g., vertically) and a second position(e.g., horizontally) traverse to the first position in relation to asupporting surface, such as a desktop or table top, allow content to beviewed vertically and horizontally on the display screen.

The clip 14 may swivel in any suitable manner, such as by the provisionof cooperating surfaces, such as discretely interlocking surfaces, whichmay allow the clip 14 to swivel to a desired position and then maintainits place. For example, a predetermined amount of force may be requiredto displace (i.e., swivel) the clip 14. This may be accomplished is anysuitable manner. For example, the clip 14 may be provided with a firstpart 64 that may be mounted to the cover 12 and a second part 66 thatmay swivel in relation to the first part 64. The first and second parts64, 66 may include annular surfaces (not shown) having matingserrations, teeth, undulations, or the like that may cam in relation toone another, so as to form a clicking-type swivel connectiontherebetween.

The clip 14 may form a stand in any suitable manner, such as by theprovision of a hinged connection, generally indicated at 68 in FIG. 10,on the second part 66 of the clip 14, thus forming two second partportions 70, 72. The hinge connection may be a living hinge or amechanical hinge. The clip 14 may have a stop 74, such as a protrudingmember, which when engaged, limits the hinged travel of one of secondpart portions 72, for example, by cooperating with the other one of thesecond part portions 70 of the clip 14. The stand may be applied byopening the clip 14, that is, by moving one of the second part portions72 in relation to the other portion 70. The clip 14 may be held in theopen position by the weight of the cover 12 and/or device against thetwo second part portions 70, 72 and the stop 74. In this way, the clip14 functions as a stand upon which the cover 12 leans for supporting thecover 12 and device in an upright position on a supporting surface.

The clip 14 may further be provided with a lock, generally indicated at76 in FIG. 11, for holding the two second part portions 70, 72 in aclosed relation to one another. The lock 76 may take on any suitableform. For example, a first one of the two second part portions 70, 72,particularly a free end thereof, may have a partial fold or a lateralgroove 78, and a central opening 80 in the groove 78. A second one ofthe two second part portions 70, 72, may have a central hook 82extending therefrom, and raised parts 84 extending therefrom, next toopposing sides of the central hook 82.

Upon closing the two second part portions 70, 72 in relation to oneanother, the hook 82 may enter the opening 80 and the raised parts 84may engage the groove 78 to hold the hook 82 in snap-fit relation tosurface structure defining the opening 80. Upon application of apredetermined amount of force, the hook 82 may be released from theopening 80 and the clip 14 may be opened.

The leash 16 may be attached to the cover 12 or the clip 14 in anysuitable manner. For example, the cover 12 and/or clip 14 may beprovided with a hole, slot, slit or other suitable opening, forattachment of a string 86, which may form a part of the leash 16. Theillustrated clip 14 has such an opening 88. The string 86 may be in theform a loop that may be passed at least partially through the opening 88and the leash 16 may be feed through the loop, as shown in FIG. 12.Pulling the leash 16 tightly may tighten the string 86 about a portionof the clip 14 defining at least a portion of the opening 88. Otherforms of attachment may be suitable for attaching the leash 16,including for example, a hook with a closure (not shown), which may bebiased in a closed direction upon engaging the hook with the opening 88.

The leash 16 may include a wrist strap, as disclosed in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/937,540, filed Nov. 9, 2007, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference, for attachment to a person'swrist, and/or a neck lanyard for attachment around a person's neck, sothat a person can wear the device and have it readily available. Thewrist strap and the neck lanyard may form two separate leashes or theleash 16 may be adjustable, for example, by a sliding feature, to formthe wrist strap and the neck lanyard.

The leash 16 may be formed at least in part of a material that glows inthe dark. For example, the leash may include a light absorbent anddischarging material, which upon exposure to light, may glow in thedark. This may be accomplished with the use of phosphors or othermaterials that radiate visible light after being energized. The leashmay be formed from polyester fabric, or other suitable materials, andmaterials, such as phosphors, that radiate light, and may do so invarious colors.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principleand mode of operation of this invention have been explained andillustrated in its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understoodthat this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallyexplained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.

1. An apparatus for use with an electronic handheld device, comprising:a cover structured and dimensioned to house the device, and a clipattached in relation to the cover, the clip comprising first and secondportions with a hinged connection therebetween, the second portion beingmovable in relation to the first portion at the hinge connection, theclip further comprising a stop that limits the travel of the secondportion, whereby upon moving of the second portion to engage the stop,the second portion functions as a stand upon which the cover leans forsupporting the cover in an upright position on a supporting surface. 2.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clip further comprises areleasable lock formed between the first and second portions of the clipfor holding the first and second portions in a closed relation to oneanother to form a belt clip, the lock being structured and configured tobe releasable to allow the second portion to move in an open relation tothe first portion at the hinge connection to form the stand.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2, wherein one of the first and second portions ofthe clip has an opening and the other one of the first and secondportions has a hook that engages the opening to hold the first andsecond portions in a closed relation to one another.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 3, wherein the lock is further structured and configured torequire a predetermined amount of force to release the hook from theopening.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover and the clip arestructured to cooperate with one another so that the clip is releasablyattached in relation to the cover.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, whereinone of the cover and clip has at least one opening and the other one ofthe cover and clip has at least one protrusion that cooperates with theopening to hold the clip in relation to the cover.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 6, wherein one of the cover and the clip has positive structureand the other one of the cover and the clip has negative structure thatcooperates with the positive structure to form a snap fit when theprotrusion cooperates with the opening to hold the clip in relation tothe cover.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first portion of theclip is structured to swivel in relation to the cover so that the standmay be selectively oriented longitudinally and laterally in relation tothe cover, thus permitting the cover to be selectively supported uprightin a first position and a second position transverse to the firstposition in relation to the supporting surface.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 8, further comprises discretely interlocking surfaces that allowthe clip to swivel to a desired position, including the first and secondpositions, and then maintain the desired position.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein the discretely interlocking surfaces are configured torequire a predetermined amount of force to swivel the clip.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the discretely interlocking surfacescomprise annular surfaces having mating serrations or undulations thatcam in relation to one another so as to form a clicking-type swivelconnection therebetween.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprisesa leash that is releasably attached to one of the cover and the clip.13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein one of the cover and the clip hasan opening and the leash has string that forms a loop that may be passedat least partially through the opening so that the leash may be feedthrough the loop and pulled to tighten the string about a portion of thecover or clip defining at least a portion of the opening.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 12, wherein one of the cover and the clip has anopening and the leash has a hook with a closure, which may be biased ina closed direction upon engaging the hook with the opening.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 12, wherein the leash includes a wrist strap forattachment to a person's wrist.
 16. The apparatus of claim 12, whereinthe leash includes a neck lanyard for attachment around a person's neck.17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the leash is formed at least inpart from a material that glows in the dark.
 18. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the cover is a hard shell cover.
 19. The apparatus of claim1, wherein the cover includes a built-in, touch-through screen, whichprotects a touch screen of the device while facilitating use of thetouch screen.